With academics and professionals from a variety of disciplines, our faculty and staff provide valuable support for IE School of Architecture and Design on a daily basis. The team is highly dedicated to successfully realizing the school’s mission.

Bachelor in DesignCreate a better reality

THE KNOWLEDGE HUNT

During your first year, you will have a broad introduction to the world of design and you will start developing the necessary skills to work and succeed as a designer. You’ll take a first look into the multidiscuplinary aspects of the profession and you’ll benefit from our desing studio methodology, defined for its practical approach and both an individual and collaborative way of working.

On your second year of study you will learn about the creative methodologies currently used in professional practices and you’ll develop a critical approach towards designs. The assignments will become more complex as you become more skilled and they will integrate information, concepts and techniques from allied disciplines.

During the first half of the year you will continue developing your designer skills in five areas: Design, Culture, Techniques, Applied Sciences, Business and Project-Centered Design. You will build a theoretical framework and learn about material and their different uses. You’ll get to choose among several elective courses, which will allow you to personalize your career path, and you will experience some of the main types of design. During this year you will also be able to study abroad.

The fourth and last year is all about consolidating knwoledge. You will learn about the latest developments in creative technology and you will use them as tools for the design practice. You’ll go through the latest trends in digital fabrication and learn creative coding, as well as programming, but from a designer’s perspective. During this year we will also address the main issues regarding the dissemination of your work, reaching out to important stakeholders, working on your portfolio and the storytelling of your projects.

Want to know more?

Semester 1

Introduction to Design Studio: Learning by Doing

Introduction to the Learn by doing methodology and the notions of the Studio Based Education. Proposing and experimenting solutions to the brief defined by the teachers.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Design History I

The student will acquire the basic knowledge about the development of design and contemporary visual culture from a historic perspective. From the origins of design to the mid XX century.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Design Skills I

How to think like a designer? An introduction to creativity and innovation thinking, understanding and seeing the world from a different perspective.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Psychology and User-Centered Design

An approximation to understanding of the ideas and behaviours of human being and the importance of putting the final user of design at the center of the ideation process.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

IE Module -Writing Skills

A transversal module, offered to all IE University students, this course provides a foundation in composition and argumentation.

Type

Basic

ECTS

3

IE Module -Presentation Skills

A transversal module, offered to all IE University students, this course provides a foundation in oral communication and effective presentation skills.

Type

Basic

ECTS

3

Semester 2

Introduction to Design Studio: Collaborative Design

Following up intro to design studio, in second term we introduce the collaborative methods of working in design studio in which the brief is approached from a multiperspective view.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Design History II

We will study the coming of modernism and its impact in design, as well as the following movements, like postmodernism and contemporary style until today´s design state.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Visualization and Representation Techniques

A tour among the most used and useful representation techniques to visualise in an appropiatte manner the solutions and designs, sketching, digital tools, color theory, etc.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Sociology and Culture

A reflexion about the social reality culture and communication to understand the context for the proposal of user centered design solutions.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

IE Module -Business Management

A transversal module, offered to all IE University students, this course provides a foundation in management.

Type

Basic

ECTS

6

Semester 1

Design Studio I: Focus on Visual Design

This studio is centred in the first stages of design, where conceptual and analytical operations have a priority value to develop the formal outcome.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

9

Design Methodology

Introduction to one of the most influential metodologies for creative and innovation work. With highlights of other creative methodologies.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

Interactive and Digital Tools

Get a knowledge of the latest digital and interactive tools to use them as a tool for rapid prototyping and simulation of diverse scenarios.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Research Techniques

Learning the Social Sciences techniques to gather, research, organise and quantify information in a format that can be used as a raw material for design.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

Ethnography

Identify the main characteristics of cultural identity of the user to be able to find the most suitable solution according to their personal behaviors and thoughts.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

IE Module -Entrepreneurship

Students learn how to launch their own businesses or projects. With the basic know-how from business and management classes and seminars, a high focus on humanities that allow students to view the world from new perspectives, and the resources through the Start-Up Lab and the IE Venture Lab.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Semester 2

Design Studio II: Focus on Product Design

M: Medium The projects of this studio is centred in the first stages of design, where conceptual and analytical operations have a priority value to develop the formal outcome.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

9

Design and Criticism

Analyse the transformations of design and culture as well as their relationships from conceptual and philosophical point of view, looking for a critical approach.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Materials and Applications I

You will study the development and innovation about materials as well as their application to design through the diverse processes of manufacturing.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Sustainability

Being a designer implies a series of diverse impact in every project undertaken, not only ecological but social, financial and environmental.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

IE Module -Professional Skills

IE Module.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

Semester 1

Design Studio III: Focus on Spatial Design

L: Large The development of the projects will be the subject of this studio, where the process of iteration integrating feedback and testing lead to a more polished and ideal solution to the brief.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

9

Processes and Design Theory

Aquire knowledge about the implications of technology, economy, ethics and aesthetics in design. And the main theoretical current schools of thought.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS II

You will study the development and innovation about materials as well as their application to design through the diverse processes of manufacturing.

Type

MANDATORY

ECTS

6

Quantitative Methods

Get used to the tools of analysis of data in social sciences and statistics (big data) to interpret and use them as a tool for human centred design.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

IE Module -Global Challenges

IE Module.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Semester 2: Exchange option

Electives

To complement the degree a selection of elective subjects will be offered for the student to choose, either design based or transversally from other IE degrees as well as an opportunity to study them abroad.

Type

Elective

ECTS

30

Semester 1

Design Studio IV: Focus on Strategic Design

XL ExtraLarge: The focus of this design studio will be the techniques and detailing.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

9

Contemporary Design Trends

Knowledge of the current state of design practices and analysis of the main trends and forecasts.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

Typography, Layout and Presentation

Communication of ideas is articulated by a precise control on the tools for the trade like layout, proper typography control and presentation techniques.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Programming for Designers

A basic programming knowledge of the essential programming protocols and structures will benefit the designers to outline and understand more complex endeavours.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

IE Module -Design Management

The singular nature of design enterprises ask for a particular way of management, business and entrepreneurship.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Semester 2

Final Project

With the help of a tutor, you will choose your subject to develop a full professional scale design project, as well as a research report to support it.

Type

Final Degree Project

ECTS

15

Design Narratives

An opportunity to explore the diverse media for transmitting ideas and practice the narrative techniques best suited to deliver the message specific to each kind of project. The current trends in digital fabrication, as working tools for prototyping and solving design briefs. Using the IEU Fab Lab and workshops.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

6

Portfolio Design

An opportunity to put in practice all the knowledge of visual communication and narratives to showcase their work in a professional way.

Type

Mandatory

ECTS

3

Fabrication Technologies

The current trends in digital fabrication, as working tools for prototyping and solving design briefs. Using the IEU Fab Lab and workshops.